Chapter 19: Sweetness and Suffering

Halima Sani still dey talk. "Your Majesty, Gidan strong, half country na their own. Why fight? Peace good—we get Benue as barrier, Gidan no fit cross am anyhow."

She stretch hand, plead with eye. The logic dey clear, but hope dey thin. For Umuola, river Benue na natural wall, but for heart, na wound.

This talk just dey burn Musa Adigun chest—one kind annoying fire.

He clutch chest, breath sharp, anger dey bubble. The urge to shout, to curse, dey strong. Palace wall seem to draw closer, heat rise.

Musa Adigun feel like e dey back for Okpoko Hills, eight hundred years ago. After prime minister die, na Olumide and Ikenna dey rule. Maybe dem try, but dem no get prime minister level.

For mind, the echo of old stories come back. The stories of half-brave rulers, of court wey dey drag leg, of dreams wey never reach full sun. The memory heavy, thick as palm oil.

Na either fight no dey finish, people dey suffer, or Okoli dey fight alone, court full of talk talk.

He remember council sessions—long, tired, empty. Villagers dey suffer, some dey run, some dey die, but court full of argument, talk wey no carry fire.

Whether na Musa or Lanre, prime minister pikin, Adigun no know who really care for country, who dey find their own. Their talk just like Halima Sani own now.

The confusion dey bite am. "All of us dey talk, but who really dey bleed for land?" The thought heavy, push water for eye.